Teego
MB Enthusiast
I just discovered Essar @£1.579
99 RON
- Thread starter Teego
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Essay fuel stations. They’re not a common sight on the roads.
Stevie1982
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Here's where they are. None near me.
Never sure whether one 99 RON is better or worse than another, additives, etc. Hard to know.
I think different tuners and different engines perform better or at least the tuner prefers a particular fuel. In the VAG scene and having mapped some Audi/VW last being a golf R the tuner the suggested they ran better on Tesco Momentum. I had an A45 before my current E63 and was advised to run the A45 on VPower as the burn cycle is longer and the engine performs better on it.
Indeed, there is more to fuel formulation than the octane number(s)…Here's where they are. None near me.
Never sure whether one 99 RON is better or worse than another, additives, etc. Hard to know.
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I’ve run AMGs, 911s and M cars all on either momentum or Vpower. You can’t tell the difference in normal road driving. I wait to be proven wrong.
sgregory124
MB Enthusiast
Advised by who? That would be the obvious question
In my view, the perceived advantages of V-Power over Momentum are just smoke and mirrors, particularly when the difference between the two in cost is (at the moment) 23.3p/litre.For that kind of additional cost, I want to see a discernible difference in economy or performance and the truth is, I simply don't (and never have). Shell are playing people for fools with their pricing, which might have been fine when they were the only people selling V-Power, but these days they have competition.
slade1
MB Enthusiast
Agree with above, no visible difference in performance in V power and standard petrol with CLK M272 motor.
The 1960 190B appears to rum smoother on V power with added advantage of no ethanol, expensive option but bearable on a few 1000s miles a year.
The 1960 190B appears to rum smoother on V power with added advantage of no ethanol, expensive option but bearable on a few 1000s miles a year.
Teego
MB Enthusiast
Sure is, and you can spend many hours on YT learning about it.
AMG recommend 99 Ron for my M113K so I'll look out for it. However, no way am I paying Vpower prices. As an alternative i'll use Texaco or Gulf 97 Ron.
ALFAitalia
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There have been many independent tests of the different fuel types....lots online and YouTube etc. yet to see one where the V Power or other expensive option had been proven to be any "better" in any measurable way over the cheaper brands....as long as the Ron (95, 97, 99 etc) is the same than they are basically the same fuel.....even then the differences are often not great as the fuels often test higher RON that claimed as the RON rating in this country is the MINIMUM RON of that fuel....same as the Ethanol E number.....Esso fuel sold at E% is mostly E0 Don't forget the base fuel is often EXACTLY the same fuel loaded from the same silo as all the other brands (seem different tankers queing up myself at Southampton fuel depot).....the adaptive packs are added AFTER the fuel in the the tanker.....and if you see how much they add, its at homeopathic quantities. I'm sure lots of the perceived improvement people say they feel is nothing more than a placebo....after all who would want to day they buy expensive fuel for no gain!!!? Those who put 98 or 99 in a car designed for optimum performance on 95 (which is most UK non performance cars.....most AMG cars etc specify 98/99 fuels)) are even more gullible.....they just cant advance the ignition enough to take advantage of the higher octane. Don't get me started on the supposedly high performance super diesels.....complete rip off! As long as you are happy with what you buy that's all that matters.
RogerSausage
Active Member
Pretty good video about the differing "premium" fuels and their dyno results...
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I remember our E46 M3 would “pink” on 95 Ron (super unleaded wasn’t available as much back in 2003) However when it did get Super, it would literally change its noise, throttle response and economy. Same went for my wife’s 330i in the same days (back when BMWs were nice)
I’ve run the 63s on BP Ultimate which as you know is 97 and I have to say, I never detect an improvement in anything using 99 so all super unleaded fuels are similar imo.
In terms of the diesels, the E350 is much quieter and smoother on premium diesel than on normal, my sons Golf reacts the same. There’s no performance advantage with the super diesel but there are genuine cleaning benefits.
ALFAitalia
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E46 M3s are supposed to run on 97 plus....so would not be happy on 95.
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Yes you are correct hence I wrote not every station had super back then so a little 95 was used in emergencies.
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Shell VPower Diesel used to be GTL - not sure whether it still is - and that has numerous benefits over regular diesel fuel.
I found it made a noticeable difference to the sound of my car. It could have been placebo, but other people commented that it seemed to be running more smoothly and quietly too, and they didn’t know I was using a different fuel. Not scientific, but not owners/buyer unconscious via either.
It’s been quite a while since I owned a diese though so I really could comment on current or recent formulations.
As you say Shell V-Power Diesel did and maybe still does include GTL (gas to liquid), but it’s never been 100% GTL.
GTL is zero sulphur, has a high cetane number (about 60 I think), is water ‘white’, odourless, but is low density. It burns very cleanly, producing minimal particulate. Engines can run on 100% GTL, but like all Class 1 diesel requires lubricity additive to protect the fuel system components, plus as it has low density, it doesn’t provide the best fuel economy. It is effective as a blend component though.
